I have my old ST2 in the garage and am thinking of Dual Sporting the old girl.
Seems simple enough as I am more a dirt road rider than anything too serious (well that's what I tell the cook anyway) a 21 inch front and 18 inch rear should rake it up enough for good dirt road caracteristics.
So any suggestions????
I think I could come up with a light (target around 190kgs) responsive (love that 2 valve engine) and good handling (graft a primo dirt bike front and rear end in Ohlins or WP) bike.
So c'mon am I crazy?
Michael

Ok it's on!
With a lot of encouragement from Old Dog and Pezz the bullet has been bit....
It is going to be a fairly long term project (6 months minimum I reckon).
The basics are relatively easy but the new manufactured / fabricated bits will take the time, hopefully the old girl will look like a factory product.
And so some pics to introduce the next ADV Rider Biggest Loser.....

Current weight 225kg with empty paniers

83 Horse Power

Seat Height 820mm

944cc's of beautiful GRUNT

Happy days the ST, Me and my Daughter on the way to the Phillip Island GP

Does my arse look big in this????

A bit of Jenny Craig required here

A look under her skirt

Excess fat removed.... well there is some stuff that has to go back on but there is a shitload of heavy ancillaries that will be discarded.

Sure is skinny now

Now that's a sexy arse... Love the way Ducati have put all of the wonderful brackets and attachment points on the frame, will make for mounting luggage, exhaust, bar work etc relatively easy.

So there you have it the bones for an exciting project.
Some areas that require most work

Relocating the radiator possibly to the airbox location or the side of the frame ala Super Tenere.

Run carbies (kehin flatslides most likely) to simplify the bike, get rid of the huge wiring loom, computer etc, free up the airbox area for radiator or fuel tank extension enable the running of a lot smaller battery.

Obviously the choice of front and rear end suspension & running gear, maybe WR stuff??? want to run a 21 / 18 combo.

How to get a 2 into 1 exhaust through the frame and to keep it up high to give ground clearance all Ducati's run their front header under the sump.

Bash plates and bar work but they should be easy

Work on not smiling a lot cause once she is finished I don't think I will be able to

I have thought about this in the past... I have a 2000 ST4. I couldnt bring myself to do it for a million reasons so I purchased a 05 wee-strom instead, which is now getting a Husky front end and a DR rear wheel. I reckon your ST will be an awesome project, best of luck!!

I have thought about this in the past... I have a 2000 ST4. I couldnt bring myself to do it for a million reasons so I purchased a 05 wee-strom instead, which is now getting a Husky front end and a DR rear wheel. I reckon your ST will be an awesome project, best of luck!!

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Well she has 78000k's on her and is a 98 so really it isn't worth anything, I doubt I could have sold her if I tried or if it did sell it would have been a give away!
The reality is it was a free platform for me to start a project especially in light of my love for the bike and Ducati's in general, as you know the ST2 is a very underated motorcycle, beautiful power delivery, balance and weight.
Michael

My ST2 is the one bike I wish I never sold, so it hurts to think of such a project. Then again, with the bar risers under tall bars, high windshield, etc, I kept being accused of Beemerizing mine to have a "sit up Duck." It also allowed easier running on gravel, as I could stand on the pegs.

A couple of things I'd think to be essential for your project would be a large increase in suspension travel and at least a larger wheel on the front. I landed on the pipe more than once due to the soft suspension with limited stroke. And the stock wheel size just doesn't cut it when the road gets muddy and rutted, trying to follow the path of least resistance, rather than rolling over whatever is there.

A couple of things I'd think to be essential for your project would be a large increase in suspension travel and at least a larger wheel on the front. I landed on the pipe more than once due to the soft suspension with limited stroke. And the stock wheel size just doesn't cut it when the road gets muddy and rutted, trying to follow the path of least resistance, rather than rolling over whatever is there.

Maybe the forks & wheels off a Yam dirt machine?

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They are a sensational bike Wreck.
I agree with all you have said re the mods (see post 2 above) just got to find it all lol.
Michael

Put the stripped bike on the scales yesterday and came up with 146kg as it is in the photo above... still have the front end to change (I imagine a WR or similar front end is heaps lighter) the big ol cast wheels to swap over and of course there is stuff to put back on but I am pretty confident of keeping it under 200kg.
Michael

I'm subscribing to this one too. I had one of these too... the only other thing I've ridden with nearly as much torque was the Warrior, at nearly twice the displacement. Should make a heluva DS. Good luck!

Thanks for the encouragment guys..
I have been doing a bit of pondering on how it is all going to go together..
The radiator was going to be a drama as the key thing I wanted to achieve was crashabillity as I can't ride for shit ha ha ha...
So the radiator was going to be fabricated inside the frame where the airbox sat, it was going to be a bit crowded in there with the flat slide carbies so I have decided (well for the minute anyway) to hunt down an air cooled 1100 or DS 1000 engine this will solve 2 problems

Piss the radiator off

Save me $ on rebuilding the somewhat tired old engine that is in the frame

More grunt.... as if it would need it!

I am still considering the need to have fish plates on the swing arm / engine case connection I am not sure they will be required but we will see.
Been looking at Carbon Fibre a lot on youtube as I saw one inmate had built a bashplate out of some, what an amazing material and looks like a whole lot of fun making things with it so I may turn her into a bit of a carbon beastie.... I am going to make a tank as my nuts said they didn't want to smash into the wall of fuel tank that is the standard unit but that is a way off yet.
My mate the suspension guru is still away so I need to consult him on front and rear end type for the transplant..
All this in the middle of buying a house to renovate to facillitate a career change..... phew I am wearing out just thinking of it all!
Hopefully I will have some sketches to put up soon.
Michael